Display case



H. F. FINK DISPLAY CASE Original Filed Dec. 5, 1931' INVFNTOR 124.

By ATTORNEY 1 J: WW it:

IIHHHM "W. mmh

Patented Nov. 19, 1935 DISPLAY CASE Henry F. Fink, Bellerose, N. Y.

Application December 3, 1931, Serial No. 578,621

Renewed April 12, 1935 12 Claims. (01. 20-405) The present invention relates generally to display cases, and more particularly to refrigerated display cases,- although certain of its features may be utilized in other constructions.

\ Various perishable products, such as meats,

' will spoil unless kept at a comparatively low temperature. The present refrigerated cases for displaying these products have several objectionable features which have not been overcome heretofore. For example, the cold interior of the case eventually produces a cold exterior, particularly on the glass windows. The contact of warm air with these cold surfaces causes condensation of the moisture in the air on the glass. The water or condensation on the exterior of the windows impairs or completely obstructs the vision, much as rain on the windshield of a car obstructs a drivers vision. The very purpose of a show case is to display the products-inside. Condensation on the exterior of the windows prevents the display case from performing its essential function. In addition, the water formed by the condensation soaks into the woodwork, particularly at the joints between the glass and framework, and causes the woodwork to rot in a very short time. Another difficulty is to illuminate properly the inside of the case. Lights placed inside the case warm up the interior and counteract the action of the refrigerating means, thereby requiring an excessive amount of refrigeration. The most common practice, at the present time, is to place one or more short bracket reflectors, with a single light in each, over the front window of a display case. Such reflectors and lights form projections from the case which are in the way and which are frequently damaged by customers. Children reach up and tamper with both the reflectors and lights and, in some cases, break the bulbs or injure themselves.

The present invention aims to eliminate or minimize the above objections by preventing condensation on the display windows and by illuminating the display case by external lights which are not dangerous to children or objectionable to customers. 7

An object of the present invention is to improve the construction of refrigerated display cases.

Another object of the invention is to prevent impairment of vision in refrigerated display cases. i

Another object of the invention is to improve the illumination thereof without utilizing objectionable attachments.

Another object of the invention is to improve the appearance of refrigerated display cases.

Another object of the invention is to minimize the effect of the heat from the illuminating means upon the interior of the display case. a

A further object of the invention is to accomplish these and other objects at a minimum cost.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illus- 10 trated embodiment about to be described or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the specification, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerated display case, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view showing features of the construction; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring again to the drawing, there is shown a display case having a base or supporting part I, and an upper or refrigerated part 2, provided with a bottom 4. Suitable trays 5 are mounted on supports for holding the meat or other products to be displayed. Any suitable refrigerating 3 means may be utilized, here illustrated as a coil 6 suspended from the upper part of the case, which may be operatively connected to a mechanical refrigerator, not shown. A drip pan 1 is provided beneath the refrigerating coils 6. One side 40 of the display portion of the case has a series of doors 8, permitting access to the interior of the display case for placing products therein and for removing them therefrom. The front part of the case has a display window Ill which may comprise a series of panes of glass ll, spaced from each other in substantially parallel relation to reduce as much as possible theefiect of the conditions on the exterior of the case on the refrigerated condition on the interior thereof. In other words, the air spaces intermediate the panes of glass are very effective heat insulators. These spaces between the panes of glass are preferably kept substantially sealed and some sort of-a moisture absorbing material H, such as calcium chlo- 5 ride, may be placed therein to prevent the moisture from condensing on the panes of glass. It will be understood that any other suitable means might be utilized for removing the moisture from these spaces; for example, the air mightbe withdrawn from these spaces and very dry air substituted. However, a convenient way of achieving this is to place a dehydrating material within 7 frame the spaces, as indicated at 14.

The framework forthe panes may be of any suitable material; as shown herein, a wooden l5 supports the bottom of the. panes, frames Hi the sides thereof, and frames 11 the upper edges thereof. Preferably, the end supporting frames l6, for the window, have their exterior inclined with respect to the planes of the panes H. In other words, the projection of the frame from the glass at the bottom of the panes is substantially less than the projection at the top. The purpose of this construction is to provide an inconspicuous overhang at the top of the panes, which serves as a housing for the constructions hereinafter described.

While the spaced panes of glass II have very efiective heat insulating qualities, the cold interior of the display case eventually lowers the temperature of the outer pane of glass substantially below the room temperature. As a result, the moisture, always present in the atmosphere, and particularly noticeable on humid days, tends to condense on the exterior of the window panes. This condensation is noticeable on cold days and is particularly objectionable in hot weather or in warm rooms. The greater the humidity of the warm air, the greater the condensation. The water formed by the condensation trickles over the outer surface of the glass, impairing vision and, in objectionable weather, substantially obstructing vision. In addition to impairing visibilouter pane of glass H.

ity, the water soaks into the joints of the framework at the bottom of the window, causing the wood to rot.

The present invention overcomes these dimculties by providing a conduit is, of any desired shape, extending along the upper edge of the The lower side of the conduit has a series of apertures adapted to direct jets of air along the outer surface of the window. Preferably, the air conduit I9 is mounted directly beneath the overhanging portion of the framework I! so that it is substantially concealed. Any suitable device may be utilized for delivering air through a conduit 2! to the conduit i9; for example, a blower 22, as shown herein, or an attachment to a compressed air tank or to any other suitable air circulating device. The

- compressed air forced through the conduit I5 may be preheated, if desired, but excellent results may be obtained with ordinary air. The circulation of the air over the exterior of the pane is ample to keep the pane dry at all times. The invention contemplates regulating the amount of air delivered so that .there is no substantial waste. This may be done by regulating the speed of the blower. A very slight amount of air may be sufllcient in cold, dry weather, whereas a greater amount will be required during warm, humid weather. The conduit l9 may be attached in any suitable manner to the framework II, or to the framework I. at the ends of the window, or to both.

A reflector 'is preferably provided directly below the air conduit I9, and preferably extends substantially the entire length of the window. -This reflector preferably comprises two parts hinged together at 26. The upper portion of the reflector member covers the front of the frame 11, and the lower, curved part substantially encloses the illuminating means. The ends of the reflector may be secured to the and frame- 5 work l6 by suitable screws 21. The lower edge 29 of the reflector is spaced a substantial distance below the conduit l9 and terminates in close proximity to the outer surface of the window pane. A suitable cable or wire conduit 23 is provided beneath, and maybe secured to, the air conduit l9 by brackets 24. Electric sockets 30 are provided at intervals for the reception of electric light bulbs 3| for illuminating the interior of the display case. These sockets may be secured to the conduit 23, as indicated, or may be arranged otherwise, if desired. The necessary wiring 32. for the sockets, extendsthrough the electric conduit 23, with suitable extensions for connection to the respective sockets. In some 20 cases, it may be desirable to utilize the conduit l9, both for the electric wiring and for the circulatlon of air, but the separate conduit shown is preferred. The reflector, as indicated in the drawings, does not extend beyond the front of 25 the framework of the display case.

In the operation of the device, air is delivered by the blower 22 to the conduit l9 and distributed through the outlets 20 to-the outer surface of the window, thereby drying off any condensate 30 which may be formed. The speed of the blower may be regulated to deliver the necessary amount of air to evaporate the condensate. The reflector 25, in addition to reflecting the light from the illuminating bulbs into the interior of the show case, substantially encloses these bulbs. The space between the lower edge 28 of the reflector and. the outer pane of glass is preferably too small to permit customers, such as children, to touch the bulbs within the reflector. In addition, the reflector provides a warm chamber about the lower side ofthe air conduit, through which the air passes, thereby warming it and increasing its effectiveness. The light bulbs 2| keep this space warm and cooperate with the reflector and the conduit to remove the moisture from the glass.

At the same time, the circulating air cools the light bulbs to minimize the heat communicated to the interior of the display case.

It will be seen that the present invention provides an effective means for removing condensate and moisture from the display windows of refrigerators. The illuminating means are associated with the air circulating means so that the cold air minimizes the heat which the illuminating means communicates to the display case, and the illuminating means warms the air to increase its eifectiveness. Both the air circulating and the illuminating means cooperate with each other; the illuminating means to make the air more no effective for evaporating the moisture, and the ar with the illuminating means to decrease the amount of heat transferred to the interior of the display case. The location of the illuminating means and the air conduit prevents objectionable 55 projections and substantially conceals these effective auxiliaries. The improvements contemplated herein may be added to display cases with minimum expense and with very slight changes in the construction. 7 As various changes may be made in the form,

construction and arrangement of parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing its advantages,

it is to be understood that all matter herein into.

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a refrigerated display window, a support for the upper side of said window, said support having an overhang adjacent the upper edge of the pane on the outside of the display window, and an air conduit on the outside of the window extending along the edge of said pane beneath said overhang, said conduit having a plurality of spaced apertures therein for passing air across said window.

2. In a refrigerated display case, a front window for displaying the interior thereof, a support for the upper edge of said front window, a reflector hinged to said support and extending substantially the entire length of the window on the outside thereof, said reflector depending down over a portion of said window, and sockets within said reflector on the outside of said display case for receiving bulbs to illuminate the interior of said display case.

3. In a refrigerated display case, the combination of a pane in the front of the case for displaying the interior thereof, a support for the upper edge of said pane, a reflector attached to said support and depending over a portion of said pane on the outside of the display case, a conduit extending along the upper edge of said pane between said reflector and said pane having apertures therein for distributing air over the surface of said pane.

4. In a refrigerated display case, the combination of a pane for displaying the interior'of said case, a support for the upper edge of said pane, a conduit on the outside of the display case extending along the under side of said support adjacent said pane, a reflector attached to said support and extending substantially the entire length of, said pane, and concealing said conduit, said conduit having a series of apertures for distributing air over the front of said pane between said reflector and said pane.

5. In a refrigerated display case, the combination of a pane for displaying the interior of said case, a reflector mounted adjacent the upper edge of said pane, an air conduit within said reflector having apertures in the lower side thereof, said reflector having its lower edge adjacent the exterior of said pane to direct the air along the surface of said pane.

6. In a refrigerated display case, the combination of a pane, a framework for holding said pane in position, said framework at the ends of said pane forming anangle with said pane on the exterior of the case so that there is a greater projection at the upper part of the pane than at the lower part, the framework at the upper edge of the pane extending further outward from the pane than the framework at the lower edge of the pane to provide an overhang, an air conduit extending along the upper edge of the pane and positioned beneath said overhang, and a reflector mounted on the framework to conceal said conduit and extending over a portion of the upper edge of said pane.

7. In a refrigerated display case, the combination of a pane, a framework for holding said pane in position, said framework at the ends of said pane forming an angle with said pane on the exterior of the case so that there is a greater projection at the upper part of the pane than at the lower part, the framework at the upper edge of the pane extending outwardly to provide an overhang, an air conduit extending along the upper edge of thepane and positioned beneath 5 said overhang, a reflector hingedly mounted on the framework to conceal said conduit and extending over a portion of the upper edge of said pane, sockets within said reflector for lights to illuminate the interior of the display case, and 10 means for delivering compressed air to said conduit. A

8. In arefrigerated display case, the combination of a pane of glass for displaying the interior of the case, an air conduit extending along 5 the upper edge of said pane of glass having apertures in the lower side thereof, illuminating means mounted below said apertures to warm the air delivered therefrom, and a reflector extending substantially the entire length of said pane 20 substantially enclosing said illuminating means with its lower edge in close proximity to the pane for directing the air from said apertures along the surface of the pane.

9. In a device for preventing condensation on transparent panels, the combination of a transparent panel, a conduit extending along one side of said panel, said conduit having a plurality of apertures therein substantially adjacent said panel, means-for directing air through said apertures so that the air passes across saidpanel, and heating means in the path ofthe air leaving said apertures adapted to heat the air to prevent condensation on said panel.

10. In a device for preventing condensation on transparent panels, the combination of a conduit extending along one side of said panel, said conduit having a plurality of apertures therein substantially adjacent said panel, means for directing air through said apertures so that the 40 air passes across said panel, heating means in the path of the air leaving said apertures adapted to heat the air to preventcondensation on said panel, a reflector extending about said conduit adapted to conceal said conduit and to direct the air leaving the apertures against the panel, and heating means under said reflector for heating the air as it leaves the apertures.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination of a glass panel, a conduit having apertures therein, said conduit extending along one edge of said panel, means for directing air through said conduit and apertures to pass the air across said panel, illuminating means adapted to provide a source of light for one side of said panel, said illuminating means being adjacent to said apertures to heat the air passing therethrough, and means for shielding said illuminating means at the other side thereof, said last means substantially enclosing said illuminating means and said conduit and directing the heated air against said glass panel.

12. In a refrigerated display case, the combination of a pane, an air conduit extending along the upper edge of the pane, a reflector mounted substantially adjacent to said pane to envelop and conceal said conduit and extending over a portion of the upper edge of .said pane, and sockets' within said reflector for lights to illuminate the interior of the display. case. 10

HENRY F. FINK. 

